Ref-2017-20-Being different makes me interesting

A special note, I apologize for skipping the last three days of reflections I was deeply involved in developing a special course called “The Art of Allowing” a 10 lesson course which centers around allowing God’s grace to work in our lives. It will be out soon!

Please take a moment before studying this reflection to purge negative, distracting and disruptive thoughts by giving them to our Lord Jesus Christ through prayer ( ). I encourage you to review the “Self-Reflection Questions” at the end, there maybe some unexpected blessings! Enjoy God’s wonders...

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I celebrate my uniqueness. I feel good about having traits that stand out in a crowd. Being different from the norm makes me an interesting person. I sometimes feel like the odd one out when I am around my coworkers. I know it is normal to want to fit in. But I avoid compromising my values just to be considered a part of the group. I make presentations my own by putting my personality into what I do. I bank on my people skills to break the ice. It helps me grab the interest of my audience. When I am myself, I am at ease. I rarely feel nervous or uncomfortable when I embrace my true self. I am able to focus on the mission at hand when I avoid trying to be what others expect. I realize that my fun-loving side helps others warm up to me. With fashion, I avoid wearing what is trendy. I instead choose to wear what suits my body and personality. I am most comfortable in clothes that are made for me. I believe that many of life's opportunities come about because I remain true to myself. It is easy for me to maintain integrity when I stick to being me and embrace my differences. Today, I believe that my true self is my best self. I commit to being honest about who I am and what I have accomplished. My mission is to show that integrity results in many successes.

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I sometimes feel like the odd one out when I am around my coworkers. I know it is normal to want to fit in. But I avoid compromising my values just to be considered a part of the group.

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I make presentations my own by putting my personality into what I do. I bank on my people skills to break the ice. It helps me grab the interest of my audience.

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When I am myself, I am at ease. I rarely feel nervous or uncomfortable when I embrace my true self. I am able to focus on the mission at hand when I avoid trying to be what others expect.

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I realize that my fun-loving side helps others warm up to me.

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With fashion, I avoid wearing what is trendy. I instead choose to wear what suits my body and personality. I am most comfortable in clothes that are made for me.

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I believe that many of life's opportunities come about because I remain true to myself. It is easy for me to maintain integrity when I stick to being me and embrace my differences.

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Today, I believe that my true self is my best self. I commit to being honest about who I am and what I have accomplished. My mission is to show that integrity results in many successes.

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Self-Reflection Questions:

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1) When have I wished I had the same possessions as my peers? Desiring to possess something of others. Coveting is forbidden by God and can lead to terrible consequences but occasionally refers to a commendable earnest desire.

A desire for the greater spiritual gifts:

1 Corinthians 12:31 NASB95

But earnestly desire the greater gifts.And I show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:1 NASB95

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:39 NASB95

Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

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A desire to serve in a leadership role:

1 Timothy 3:1 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

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Coveting is forbidden by God:

Romans 7:7–8 NASB95

What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall notcovet.” But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

Romans 13:9–10 NASB95

For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

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Coveting is forbidden by Jesus Christ’s teaching:

Matthew 6:19–21 NASB95

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 12:15 NASB95

Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

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Coveting has terrible consequences:

2 Samuel 11:2–4 NASB95

Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house.

1 Kings 21:18–19 NASB95

“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it. You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.” ’ ”

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 NASB95

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

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2) Why does being different sometimes result in lost opportunities? Today there is lots of talk of being special which means your above others but uniqueness is about being without an equal. Each of us are unique in God’s eyes no two individuals are the same including identical twins!

Psalm 139:13–16 NASB95

For You formed my inward parts;You wove me in my mother’s womb.I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;Wonderful are Your works,And my soul knows it very well.My frame was not hidden from You,When I was made in secret,And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;And in Your book were all writtenThe days that were ordained for me,When as yet there was not one of them.

Jeremiah 1:5 NASB95

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,And before you were born I consecrated you;I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Galatians 1:15 NASB95

But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

Revelation 2:17 NASB95

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

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3) What are some ways in which I am true to myself? When we hear the statement, “It’s business” it's an excuse for immoral and greedy behavior. On the opposite side of greed is trust in something greater than you. To trust you must believe in something larger and more significant than all you see. After all its the quality of truthfulness and dependability which rewards faith.

God and His word is trustworthy: , ; ; , ;

Psalm 19:7 NASB95

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 111:7 NASB95

The works of His hands are truth and justice;All His precepts are sure.

Daniel 2:45 NASB95

Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

1 Timothy 1:15 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

1 Timothy 4:9–10 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Revelation 21:5 NASB95

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

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God rewards trust in Him: ;

Psalm 22:4–5 NASB95

In You our fathers trusted;They trusted and You delivered them.To You they cried out and were delivered;In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

2 Timothy 1:12 NASB95

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

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Thank you for reading, God bless you, your family and have a blessed day! Assistance from , of course from the Bible but also from: Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009. Print.